Luminaire



Jan. 17, 1967 c, E, RACKLEY ET AL LUMINAIRE 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed March20, 1964 INVENTORS Corle E. Rockley 8 Winfried Nieder-WestermonnWITNESSES MW 3N1 W ATTORNEY 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Y m NN l a mm mm Q @N w mmM mm v V w m v R w H Jan. 17, 1967 Q RACKLEY ET AL LUMINAIRE Filed March20, 1964 II 1 II 1 III/AllIl/v XIII Jan. l7, 1967 j c E, RACKLEY ET AL3,299,265

LUMINAIRE 5 Sheets-Sheet Filed March 20, 1964 Fig.9.

Fig.4.

United States Patent 3,299,265 LUMINAIRE Carle E. Rackley, Westlake, andWinfried Nieder-Westermann, Parma, Ohio., assignors to WestinghouseElectric Corporation, East Pittsburgh, Pa., a corporation ofPennsylvania Filed Mar. 20, 1964, Ser. No. 353,419 6 Claims. (Cl.240-147) This invention relates generally to luminaires and, moreparticularly, to a luminaire suitable for interior use.

There is a great demand in interior lighting for a recessed luminairewhich presents a clean appearance. Usually recessed luminaires aredesigned with a support: ing frame around the light diffusing member.This is necessary to have a light system which is leak-proof. The frameserves to effectuate a tight physical fit between the diffusing meansand the luminaire housing. It also provides mountings for hinges andlatches. Of course the structure does not present an appearance which isas pleasing as a clean, unframed light diffuser.

It is also customary for access to the interior of the fixture to be hadby means of a diffuser or light shield which serves as a closureassembly. In keeping with the aforementioned requirements of a cleanappearance, the hinges and latches on such a closure assembly mustremain obscured from vision. To maintain a tight physical fit betweenthe light shield and the luminaire housing, a new and unique hinge andlatch are required.

It is the general object of this invention to provide an improvedinterior recessed luminaire.

A further object of this invention is to provide an improved recessedinterior luminaire in which the light diffuser itself serves as theclosure assembly and the luminaire hinges and latches are concealed fromview.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a latch mechanismwhich may be operated to open and also to closed by a slight push upwardon the closure assembly.

Still a further object of the present invention is to provide aluminaire which has a hinge mechanism which may be attached directly tothe diffuser.

Another object of the invention is to provide a hinge mechanism thatpermits the light shield to move away from the hinge side of the housingto obtain the swing clearance necessary to move the diffused beyond avertical plane.

Yet another object of the present invention is to provide hinges andlatches which are small in physical size.

An additional object of the present invention is to provide a luminairewith hinges which insure a tight seal between the diffuser and housingand also permit swing clearance on the hinge side on opening thediffuser.

Yet another object of the present invention is to provide an interiorrecessed luminaire which incorporates all of the aforementionedfeatures.

The aforesaid objects and other objects Which will become apparent asthe description proceeds are achieved by providing a recessed interiorluminaire which has a light shield recessed in the housing. The shieldor light control means is not surrounded by any frame. Hinges andlatches are attached directly to the shield. Located within theenclosure of the luminaire, the hinges and latches are of such size,shape and location that they do not cast objectionable shadows on thelight shield. The latch is operated by merely lifting upward a shortdistance on the latch side of the light shield. This lift upward iseffective either to open or close the latch assembly. The hingemechanism comprises a stationary pin mounted to the light controllingclosure assembly and a hook-shaped member mounted to the luminairehousing. The hookshaped member is provided with basically two pivotpoints, one for small angular displacement of the closure from thehousing, and the other for permitting a large angular displacement.

For a better understanding of the invention, reference may be had to thefollowing detailed description taken in conjunction with theaccompanying drawings in which:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of the luminaire, partly broken away,showing one hinge and one latch, when viewed from beneath the luminaire;

FIG. 2 is a sectional end elevation of the luminaire, partly brokenaway, showing the latch and hinge taken along lines II-II of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is an enlarged view, partly in section, of the latch mechanismshown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a top plan, partly in section, taken along line IVIV in FIG.2, showing the hinge mechanism of FIGS. 1 and 2;

FIG. 5 is a top plan, partly in section, taken along lines VV in FIG. 2,showing the latch mechanism of FIGS. 1 and 2;

FIG. 6 is an enlarged sectional view of an alternate form of the latchmechanism as taken on the line VIVI in FIG. 7;

FIG. 7 is a sectional view of the alternate configuration of the latchmechanism shown in FIG. 6 taken on the line VIIVII in FIG. 6;

FIG. 8 is a fragmentary elevational View of another alternateconfiguration of the latch mechanism; and

FIG. 9 is a bottom plan of the alternate latch configuration of FIG. 8.

Referring to the particular embodiment of the invention illustrated inthe drawings and particularly to FIGS. 1 and 2, it can be seen that theluminaire has a housing or troffer 11 with a top wall or member 13,downwardly extending side walls 15 and end walls 17 defining a bottomopening 19. The pan-shaped light diffusing closure assembly 20 fitssnugly into the bottom opening 19. Wall portions 21 of the closureassembly extend upwardly from the bottom panel or portion 22 and arespaced a slight amount from the inner surface of troffer Walls 15 and17, so that no direct light will be radiated from the troffer withoutpassing through the closure assembly. Connecting the inner surface ofone wall portion 21 of the closure to the corresponding wall or side ofthe troffer is a hinge member 23 located near each end. Each hingecomprises basically two major portions, a hook member 25 and a pivot pinor journal member 27. The pin member 27 is attached to the closureassembly 21 by any suitable means such as rivets or bolts 29. Ifdesired, the pin 27 could I be attached to another upwardly extendingsurface of closure assembly'21, such as the upper periphery of sideportions 21. The hook member 25 is likewise attached, by similar means31, to an end wall 17 of the troffer portion 11 of the luminaire, whichtroffer remains stationary throughout operation of the closure assembly21. As shown best in FIG. 2 the hook member 25 has basically two bearingsurfaces or points. The primary bearing point 33 is contacted by the pin27 when angular displacement of the closure assembly from the horizontalor closed position is small. The secondary bearing portion 35 of thehook member 25 is engaged by pin 27 after the closure assembly 21 hasbeen opened slightly and moved laterally away from the hinge side of thetroffer 11. When it is desired to swing the closure assembly 21 downwardand even beyond a vertical plane, there will be sufficient swingclearance for the hinge end of the closure because of the shape of thehook.

In operation the sequence is as follows. Once the closure 21 isunlatched, and the latch end is dropped downwardly a few degrees, theentire assembly may be moved laterally toward the latch side of theluminaire. Correspondingly the hinge pins 27 will move from the primarybearing portion 33 of the hook member 25 to the secondary bearingportion 35; thence the remainder of the swinging motion may beaccomplished without interference on the hinge side resulting from thesnug clearances between closure and housing.

In the embodiment as described, a hinge assembly 23 is located at eachend portion of the troffer to hingeably secure one side of the closureassembly to the troifer. A releasable latch assembly 37 connects to wallportions of the trofier and to the inner surface of side portions 21 ofthe closure assembly which are oppositely disposed from the hinges 23.

Referring to FIGS. 2 and 3 it can be seen therein that the latchassembly 37 comprises a latch clip 39, a cylinder 4'1 with a mountingbracket or frame 43, a spring 45, a piston 47 and a latch arm 49. Thepiston 47 has a series of axially spiralling grooves or tracks 51indented or recessed in its outer surface. The cylinder has a smallinwardly projecting finger 53 which engages the recessed grooves in thepiston. The spring 45 urges the piston 47 and latch arm 49 mechanism toa static position after one-half cycle of operation. Operation of eitherhalf cycle is accomplished simply by causing the lower portion 55 of thelatch clip 39 to displace upwardly the latch arm 49 and piston 47.Accordingly, the latch arm will be caused to rotate 180 by theinter-action of the \grooves 51 and the projecting finger 53. Removal ofthe upward force will then permit the spring 45 to return the piston toits initial axial position without any rotation. A second axial motionof the piston 47 and latch arm 49 in the upward direction again willcause 180 rotation of the latch arm, thereby returning the latch arm toits fastening position in engaging relationship with the upper portion57 of the latch clip 39.

FIG. 4 shows the hinge mechanism in plan. It can be seen that the hook25 and pin 27 project inwardly only a slight amount, rendering verylittle obstruction to the passage of light. Consequently noobjectionable shadows are cast by the hinge.

FIG. 5 shows the latch mechanism in plan. Likewise its size and locationare such as to be unobservable when viewed from beneath the luminaire.

FIGS. 6 and 7 depict an alternate configuration of the latch assembly.In this embodiment, the grooved piston 47:: is aifixed to the luminairetroffer, by means of bracket 43a, in a stationary manner. In theembodiment shown in FIG. 2, the cylinder is attached to the trofi'erwall. The cylinder 41a, when actuated axially by the latch clip 39, willturn 180 because of the protruding finger 53a, which is mounted to thecylinder 41a and is engaged in the spiralling grooves 51a of the piston47a. The latch 4%, which is mounted to the cylinder in this embodimentwill engage and disengage the upper portion 57 of the latch clip 39 withalternate axial movements of the cylinder.

FIG. 8 depicts still another alternate embodiment of the latch assembly.In this embodiment it can be seen that four spiralling grooves 51b arecut in the piston 4717, whereas in the aforementioned embodiments onlytwo grooves were present. Corresponding with this fourgroo've piston,two latch arms 4%, as shown in FIG. 9, would be provided on either thecylinder 41a or the piston 47, depending upon which of the alternateconfigurations alluded to previously would be employed. Consequently,instead of rotating 180, the mechanism would rotate, for example, only90 with each axial displacement if two diametrically opposed latch armsand four spiralling grooves were provided. Furthermore, it is within thescope of this invention to provide a latch wherein the spirallinggrooves are recessed into the cylinder rather than the piston, and thecooperating projection is mounted on the piston rather than thecylinder.

The construction of the latch assembly is such that it readily lendsitself to die casting of metal or injection molding of plastic,resulting in accuracy of parts and reliability of operation at nominalcost. Accordingly, economy and simplicity of manufacture will result.

The size of the latch mechanism is sufiiciently small to permit itsbeing completely obscured from view. When mounted a short distance awayfrom the bottom panel of the closure, no objectionable shadows will becast on the panel. As a specific example the diameter of the cylinder isapproximately inch and its length 1% inches.

Accordingly, it can be seen that with the use of the hinge mechanism andlatch mechanism alluded to herein, close physical fits or tolerancesbetween the closure assembly 20 and the luminaire trolfer 11 may beobtained, without any other sacrifice in versatility. The luminaireitself can accordingly take any shape or size. Customarily it has beencommon for interior recessed luminaires to take a rectangular shapebecause of the nature of the fluorescent lamps. However, theaforementioned hinge, latch and closure mechanisms may be incorporatedinto any closure assembly and housing whatsoever. It is not restrictedto luminaires.

From the foregoing description it is apparent that the objects of theinvention have been achieved by providing an interior recessed luminairehaving latches and hinges which are not observable. Opening and closingof the luminaire door is quick and effective. Its unique hinge permits awide arc of opening of the door. The luminaire therefore can beconstructed so as to eliminate all possibility of light leaks and alsoto eliminate the necessity for a frame surrounding the light diffuser.

Since numerous changes may be made in the abovedescribed constructionand different embodiments of the invention may be made without departingfrom the spirit and scope thereof, it is intended that all subjectmatter contained in the foregoing description or shown in theaccompanying drawings shall be considered as illustrative and not in alimiting sense.

We claim as our invention:

1. A luminaire comprising: a trofier having a top memher and downwardlyextending walls defining a bottom opening; closure means comprisinglight perforate matter, unbounded by framing members, beingsubstantially pan-shaped and said closure means adapted to be recessedsnugly into said bottom opening; hinge means pivotally connecting saidtroifer and said closure means, said hinge means comprising at least onegenerally hoo-k shaped member mounted on one of said troffer and saidclosure means, said hook shaped member having a first bearing surfaceadapted to permit rotation of said closure means when the angle betweensaid closure and the plane of said bottom opening is small, and saidhook shaped member also having a second bearing surface adapted topermit rotation of said closure means when said angle is larger, thespacing between said bearing surfaces being sufficient to permit lateralmovement of said closure means away from the hinge areas of saidtroffer, and said hinge means also comprising pin means mounted on theother of said closure means and said troffer, said pin means engagingsaid first bearing surface when said angle is small and said pin meansengaging said second bearing surface when said angle is large and saidhinge means being obscured from view when said closure means is in theclosed position; and latch means engaging said closure means and saidtrofier, said latch means located within said troffer and said latchmeans being obscured from view when said closure is in the closedposition.

2. A luminaire comprising: a trolfer having a top member and downwardlyextending walls defining a bottom opening; closure means comprisinglight perforate matter, unbounded by framing members, having asubstantially pan-like shape and said closure means adapted to berecessed snugly into said bottom opening; hinge means pivotallyconnecting said troifer and said closure means, said hinge means locatedwithin the troffer and said hinge means being obscured from View whensaid closure means is in the closed position; and latch means engagingsaid closure means and said troifer, said latch means comprising asub-assembly consisting of, a cylinder having an inward projection, aspring loaded piston provided with grooves, said piston having anelongated axial arm, and a latching projection mounted to and extendinglaterally of one of said cylinder and said arm, said projection rotatingwhen said piston undergoes axial displacement relative to said cylinder,at least one said sub-assembly mounted to one of said closure means andsaid troifer, and said latch means also comprising latch clip meansattached to the other of said closure assembly and said troffer, saidprojection adapted to engage and disengage said clip means when axialdisplacement of said piston relative to said cylinder is activated bymovement of said closure means and said latch means being obscured fromview when said closure is in the closed position.

3. A luminaire comprising: a trolfer having a top member and downwardlyextending walls defining a bottom opening; closure means consisting oflight-transmitting material unbounded by framing members, having asubstantially pan-shaped configuration comprising a bottom portion andwall portions and said closure means adapted to be recessed snugly intosaid bottom opening; hinge means pivotally connecting said trofier andsaid closure means, said hinge means adapted to permit said closuremeans to be rotated about a first axis when in a substantially closedposition, and about a second axis when opened further, said second axisdisposed laterally of said first axis to permit lateral movement of saidclosure means and said hinge means being obscured from view when saidclosure means is in the closed position; and latch means including apiston and a cylinder interconnected to produce rotary motion engagingsaid closure means and said trofifer, said latch means being rotatablyoperable to permit latching and unlatching of said closure means inresponse to a slight upward movement of said closure means and saidlatch means being obscured from view when said closure is in the closedposition.

4. A luminaire comprising: a troffer having a top member and'downwardlyextending walls defining a bottom opening; pan-shaped closure meanscomprising light perforate matter 'having a bottom portion and upwardlyextending wall portions, and said closure means adapted to be [recessedsnugly into said bottom opening; hinge means pivotally connecting saidtroffer and said closure means, said hinge means comprising at least onegenerally hook shaped member mounted on one of said troiTer and saidclosure means, said hook shaped member having a first bearing surfaceadapted to permit rotation of said closure means when the angle betweensaid closure and the plane of said bottom opening is small, and saidhook shaped member also having a second hearing surface adapted topermit rotation of said closure means when said angle is larger, thespacing between said bearing surfaces being sufficient to permit lateralmovement of said closure means away from the hinge areas of saidtroffer, and said hinge means also comprising pin means mounted on theother of said closure means and said troffer, said pin means engagingsaid first bearing surface when said angle is small and said pin meansengaging said second bearing surface when said angle is large and saidhinge means being obscured from view when said closure means is in theclosed position; and latch means engaging said closure means and saidtroffer, said latch means comprising a sub-assembly consisting of acylinder provided with an inward projection, a spring loaded pistonprovided with a plurality of spiralling grooves, said piston having anelongated axial arm and a latching projection mounted to and extendinglaterally of one of said cylinder and said arm, said projection rotatingwhen said piston undergoes :axial displacement relative to saidcylinder, at least one said sub-assembly mounted to one of said closuremeans and said troffer, and said latch means also comprising latch clipmeans attached to the other of said closure assembly and Said troffer,said projection adapted to engage and disengage said clip means whenaxial displacement of said piston relative to said cylinder is activatedby movement of said closure means and said latch means being obscuredfrom view when said closure is in the closed position.

5. A luminaire comprising; a troffer having a top member and downwardlyextending walls defining a bottom opening; light-transmitting closuremeans having a body portion which fits snugly into the bottom opening ofsaid trofler and side members which extend upwardly from edges of thebottom opening of said troifer; the side members of said closure meansspaced a slight amount from the inner surface of wall portions of saidtrofier; hinge means connected to wall portions of said troffer and tothe inner surfaces of opposite side members of said closure means tohingeably secure one edge of said closure means to said troffer; latchmeans including a groove and finger associated to produce rotary motion,connected to wall portions of said troffer and to the inner surface ofside members of said closure means which are oppositely disposed fromsaid hinge means; and said latch means being rotatably engageable anddisengageable by a slight upward motion of said closure meansrespectively to secure said closure means within said troiier bottomopening and to release said closure means to permit same to swing to anopen position about said hinge means.

6. The luminaire as specified in claim 5, wherein said hinge means hastwo pivot points, one of said pivot points providing support for saidclosure means when said closure means is in closed position, and theother of said pivot laterally spaced from said one pivot point to permitsaid closure means to move laterally upon rotation toward open positionin order that the side wall and peripheral portions of said closuremeans which are proximate to the axis about which said closure means ishinged will clear the proximate wall portion of said troffer.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,721,635 10/1955 Fullerton 240-147 X 2,978,575 4/1961 Cohen 24051.11 X 2,981,5604/1961 Wehner 292-197 X 3,064,851 11/1962 Guigli 240-147 X 3,093,3226/1963 Boutelle 240-78 3,211,905 10/1965 Picha et al. 240-147 X JOHN M.HORAN, Primary Examier. NORTON ANSHER, Examiner.

CHARLES C. LOGAN II, Assistant Examiner.

5. A LUMINAIRE COMPRISING; A TROFFER HAVING A TOP MEMBER AND DOWNWARDLYEXTENDING WALLS DEFINING A BOTTOM OPENING; LIGHT-TRANSMITTING CLOSUREMEANS HAVING A BODY PORTION WHICH FITS SNUGLY INTO THE BOTTOM OPENING OFSAID TROFFER AND SIDE MEMBERS WHICH EXTEND UPWARDLY FROM EDGES OF THEBOTTOM OPENING OF SAID TROFFER; THE SIDE MEMBERS OF SAID CLOSURE MEANSSPACED A SLIGHT AMOUNT FROM THE INNER SURFACE OF WALL PORTIONS OF SAIDTROFFER; HINGE MEANS CONNECTED TO WALL PORTIONS OF SAID TROFFER AND TOTHE INNER SURFACES OF OPPOSITE SIDE MEMBERS OF SAID CLOSURE MEANS TOHINGEABLY SECURE ONE EDGE OF SAID CLOSURE MEANS TO SAID TROFFER; LATCHMEANS INCLUDING A GROOVE AND FINGER ASSOCIATED TO PRODUCE ROTARY MOTION,CONNECTED TO WALL PORTIONS OF SAID TROFFER AND TO THE INNER SURFACE OFSIDE MEMBERS OF SAID CLOSURE MEANS WHICH ARE OPPOSITELY DISPOSED FROMSAID HINGE MEANS; AND SAID LATCH MEANS BEING ROTATABLY ENGAGEABLE ANDDISENGAGEABLE BY A SLIGHT UPWARD MOTION OF SAID CLOSURE MEANSRESPECTIVELY TO SECURE SAID CLOSURE MEANS WITHIN SAID TROFFER BOTTOMOPENING AND TO RELEASE SAID CLOSURE MEANS TO PERMIT SAME TO SWING TO ANOPEN POSITION ABOUT SAID HINGE MEANS.